Your Christmas drinks cabinet

All the bottles you need for the festive season

The festive season is on the horizon and with it the season of all things alcoholic. Like it or not, it's near impossible to avoid the relentless offering of mulled wine, spiked rum punch and hot toddies come Christmas. Not to mention the liqueur poured over ice cream (that's not just us is it?)...

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We feel, in the name of good showmanship and respectably gentlemanly behaviour that it is best, on these occasions, to embrace the trend and go with the masses. It is the season to be jolly after all?

A well stocked drinks cabinet is an essential from around mid-November onwards. There are those chilly evenings when only a whisky by the fire will warm you up and the Friday nights when merry dinner party guests fancy a digestif or a cocktail on arrival. Thankfully, stocking a festive drinks cabinet needn't be an expensive operation, it's just a simple case of buying the right few essentials which can then be mixed and served in a bewitching variety of combinations.

The experts at WSET (Wine & Spirit Education Trust) have come up with a short and sweet list of the bottles you need to add to your Ocado basket for a well-stocked Christmas drinks cabinet....

Gin

The G&T was the original ‘sundowner’ and not traditionally associated with winter, but gin has fast become a staple of every drinks cabinet all year round. For a seasonal twist, opt for a sweetened gin like Old Tom, which is making a comeback as it was the original gin used in classic cocktails.

Sake

Not technically a spirit but so much more than a wine, Sake is one of the hottest drinks trends this year, and with good reason as its versatility will see you through any occasion. As the Japanese saying goes ‘Sake never fights with food’ so it will complement any array of seasonal dishes. Choose one labelled Junmai as it will be richer and more savoury in character to complement festive food. Junmai can also be served warm to take the edge off the winter chill.

Brandy

A good brandy is quite literally the icing on the cake for Christmas, from the traditional dousing of the Christmas pud in pursuit of capturing the perfect picture of it alight, to the comforting boozy butter that accompanies any array of festive treats. Push the boat out with an indulgent XO Cognac. Its rich yet smooth intensity will also make the perfect night cap to round off the festivities.

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Golden Rum

A good golden rum has all of the flavours and aromas we associate with Christmas so deserves a prime position in the Christmas drinks cabinet: Cinnamon, nutmeg, chocolate, honey – either from maturation in oak or from added spices (in the case of spiced rum). It’s also a category on the rise and has been tipped by numerous experts as ‘the next gin’.

Single Malt Scotch Whisky

Far from its assumed demographic, women are moving over to scotch faster than any other audience. Not all are overpowering and smoky – drams from Speyside in the north east are generally softer, sweeter, more nuanced than some of the heavily peated varieties from Islay, but who doesn’t enjoy a hint of smoke around the fire at Christmas while it’s frosty outside!

Coffee Liqueur

While many may reach for an obvious Irish cream liqueur, there’s an abundance of great coffee liqueurs out there. It’s a classy and bold flavour, works exquisitely as an after dinner drink and can be a perfect party starter when mixed as well.

Cranberry & Thyme G&T – A festive update on a favourite. This recipe for Cranberry & Thyme syrup is perfect for Christmas…

50ml Old Tom

25ml Cranberry & Thyme syrup (Add 150g of cranberries, two pinches of dried thyme, 50g of caster sugar, 100ml of water, a splash of orange juice and ¼ tsp of vanilla extract to a small pan. Simmer on a medium heat for 5 - 7 minutes, making sure to press a spoon against the cranberries to pop them. Take the pan off the heat, allow the mixture to cool and strain the syrup, getting rid of all solids)

Top up with tonic

Cognac & Tonic

Popular with drinkers from Cognac’s home in France, a C&T is a winter alternative with spicy honey, raisin and orange notes that offer a warming sensation in contrast to the fresh juniper flavours of gin.

Sake-tini

For a contemporary update on the classic cocktail, pour equal parts gin and Sake into a martini glass and garnish with an olive. The dry flavour will whet your appetite ahead of any festive feast.

Got the sniffles? This is the best remedy for a cold known to humanity – Take a cup, add a double of scotch, 2 teaspoons of honey, a good squeeze of lemon, top up with hot water. Fresh ginger works great in this as well.

Hot Buttered Rum

Take a large mug, add 4 teaspoons of Chai Latte powder, a small knob of butter, a good glug of golden rum, top with hot water or hot milk and stir well. Add cream and grated nutmeg for an indulgent Christmas treat.

Fancy learning more about spirits? Head to WSET and see what courses they have on offer.

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